Saturday, December 14, 2024

Imperatriz sold for Australian record $6.6 million

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Champion mare Imperatriz has been sold for an Australian record $6.6 million.

The hammer was brought down on the 10-time Group 1 winner at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.

Imperatriz, who earnt $6.97 million prizemoney on the track, was bought by Yulong Investments, who is owned by Chinese billionaire, Yuesheng Zhang.

The previous broodmare sale record in Australia was $5 million for Milanova back in 2008.

Imperatriz wasn’t on site at the Gold Coast because she was back home in New Zealand, but bidding started on the mare (Lot 587) at 5.08pm at $4 million, and she was sold at 5.12pm.

The sale marked another incredible chapter in Imperatriz’s story, who was bought at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale in 2020, for what now seems a pittance at $360,000.

She has already turned that $360,000 investment into more than $13.5 million for her plethora of owners, headlined by Te Akau principal David Ellis.

Coolmore continued their red-hot buying spree at the Magic Millions mares sale, beating their own sale-topping bid by purchasing three-year-old filly Platinum Jubilee for an eye watering $3.5m.

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The half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot was subject to a three-way bidding war, which eventually saw Coolmore win out, with her new connections confirming she will be retired and serviced by Wotton Bassett at the upcoming breeding season.

“We identified her as one of the mares in the sale that we really wanted to get,” Coolmore’s Tom Moore said. “From our point of view, we are trying to breed stallions, she gives the opportunity to do that.”

Now retired Chris Waller-trained Thousand Guineas winner Madame Pommery, who only won two of her 18 starts and $867,000 prizemoney, was bought by Coolmore for $2.7 million.

TJ Smith Stakes winner Chain Of Lightning, who has won $2.7m prizemoney, was bought by Yulong Investments for $2.5 million.

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Despite having an open invite to Royal Ascot, a trip abroad for Chain Of Lightning seems unlikely with Yulong boss Vin Cox hinting they are likely to target races in Australia while she is still in the peak of her career.

Confirming their position as one of the most dominant forces in the mares market, Cox said Yulong were keen to be a player in the Magic Millions mares sale.

“Without giving too much away, there are some nice mares here, we have been bidding on a few and we have been beaten on a few,” Cox said.

“I don’t know if we will be putting her on the plane to Europe at this stage, we will have a chat to Peter (Moody). There are some good options here in Australia as well.

“She’s arguably racing in as good a form as she’s ever run having won a TJ Smith, that is outstanding sprint form.”

Having run in the Doomben 10,000 earlier this month and already in Queensland, Cox said she could well hang around in Queensland for another Group 1 assignment.

“The obvious race for her is something like the (Tattersall’s) Tiara, but again, we will talk to Peter about that.”

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Earlier, Coolmore splashed more than $4m in the space of 10 minutes.

Within four lots, Coolmore struck on the Rosemont Stud-owned Legacies for $1.4m, before backing up moments later on Group 1 winner Madame Pommery with a $2.7m bid.

It marks the end of a fairytale story for the connections of Madame Pommery, who was purchased for $150,000 and owned by a ladies syndicate, before going on to win the Group 1 Thousand Guineas for trainer Chris Waller.

She will be retired and return to Coolmore, where she was originally bred.

“I couldn’t watch, I haven’t been able to watch her for about half an hour. It got really exciting,” former part owner Sophie Baker said while holding back tears.

“It’s just great she’s going to Coolmore, where she was born, she’ll breed and we can go and see her babies there.”

After running 12th in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben on Saturday, Legacies could be set to head to the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara next month for her new owners.

“We’ll discuss with her trainer. Obviously there are races like the Tatt’s Tiara and other races beckoning but that is what everybody says of everything that goes through the sale ring,” Coolmore’s James Bester said.

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Blazer Stakes winner Life Lessons was bought by Yulong for $1 million.

Imperatriz was tipped to break the record for the most expensive broodmare sold in Australia.

“There is no doubt Imperatriz will attract global interest and will be the headline act of the auction calendar internationally,” Ellis said last month.

American business tycoon John Stewart, who was the underbidder on the $10 million Pierro-Winx yearling filly, declared he would go up to $6 million to buy Imperatriz.

“She fits right in to what I am looking for,” Stewart told Racenet earlier this month.

“She is on our list and there are a few more at that Magic Millions sale we are looking for.

“I think she goes for between $5m and $6m … $6m probably buys her and I would be willing to pay that for her.

Originally published as 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz sells for record $6.6 million at Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale

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